hrvtrans HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, SUBMISSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1997-05-14 3 SIYALANA MATHINZINI EC0308/96CCK https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=55495&t=&tab=hearings https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/hrvtrans/kwtown/kwtmathi.htm SIYALANA MATHINZINI (sworn states) CHAIRPERSON You may sit down Sir, thank you. We welcome you. We will hand over to Ms Maya to lead you with questions on behalf of the Commission. MS MAYA Thank you Mr Chairperson .Mr Mathinzini you are here to-day to talk about what happened to you on the 15th of May. Is that correct ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes that is correct. MS MAYA Where are you from Sir ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA Please tell us briefly what happened to you, Sir. MR MATHINZINI My house was burnt down. I was inside the house. They poured petrol in my house. MS MAYA What happened before that, Sir ?. MR MATHINZINI I arrived from Johannesburg in 1992. I was then elected as a Chairperson of the School Committee. I agreed to take that position. After a while I found out that the people were against Mr Booi. They wanted him to be dismissed. As a School Committee we said that we have to have a meeting so that we can discuss this issue. MS MAYA Who are these people who were, who wanted Mr Booi to be dismissed ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA MR MATHINZINI The reason is that they said that as a Chairperson of the School Committee, I have a lot to say, because I told them to come forward to say that they were against the Principal. MS MAYA Can you please explain to us, what was happening in the Community, between the Councillors and the people? MR MATHINZINI The people are against the Councillors. MS MAYA What was the connection between you and the Councillors. MR MATHINZINI There was no connection. MS MAYA Were you a member of any political or residents association? MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA Was it the usual thing that the teacher would go to the Headman to report what was happening at school ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes. MS MAYA Mr Booi, was he a member of any organization ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA According to your statement you said that you were accused of being a member of the ADM. Is that correct? MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA What was the damage in your house ?. MR MATHINZINI My furniture got burnt down. My leg was, I broke my leg. MS MAYA What happened exactly ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA Your house was burnt down. You were trying to escape through a window. You then broke your leg. What time was it ?. MR MATHINZINI It was about 8 in the evening. MS MAYA Did you notice any people. MR MATHINZINI Yes, I did. MS MAYA Do you have their names ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes, I do. MS MAYA We will like you to give these names to our investigating team. Is that all, Sir ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA What are your requests to the Commission Sir ?. MR MATHINZINI I would like to be helped to re-build my house. I also have 2 boys who are still at school. MS MAYA How old are they ?. MR MATHINZINI One was born in 1975. The other one in 1979. MS MAYA Are these your sons ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes. MS MAYA In which standards are they at school ?. MR MATHINZINI They are doing Std 9 and the other one is doing Std 8. MS MAYA You said that you saw these people. Did you lay a charge against them ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes. MS MAYA Were they prosecuted ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes. MS MAYA What happened to that case ?. MR MATHINZINI It was said that there was not enough evidence because this happened at night. MS MAYA Did you go to any attorney for advice ?. MR MATHINZINI Yes, I did. MS MAYA What then happened ?. MR MATHINZINI MS MAYA Who is this attorney ?. MR MATHINZINI Mr Dorrington. The lawyers would change from one lawyer to the other. In March I was told that the case will be on. When I got there, they said that it was postponed, but I according to myself, I think that they will not help me. MS MAYA You were still talking about your requests. MR MATHINZINI My goats were also burnt down. MS MAYA You have requests about your children and your house. MR MATHINZINI Yes. MS MAYA I have one other question, Sir. The teacher you mentioned. Do you know of any reason for the people to be against him ?. What did he do ?. MR MATHINZINI They said that he was incompetent and they accused him of corruption. I told them that I came back from Johannesburg in January 1993. I was not aware of these allegations. MS MAYA What happened to the teacher ?. MR MATHINZINI The teacher is still around. He is still in that school. MS MAYA Thank you, Sir. I will hand over to the Chairperson. MS MAYA Maybe, you will be asked further questions. Mr Chairperson, thank you. CHAIRPERSON I would like to thank you, Sir, for coming here and giving testimony. We know that this period was a difficult period. People were angry. They would do something to people who are not supposed to be involved. I thank you for your testimony. We thank you for trusting the Commission, because you gave us your testimony and the Commission will try and report to the President, because we are only here to gather information and forward it to the President, so that the President can see what we do for the people. We thank you for coming here and giving testimony. Thank you. MS MAYA Thank you Sir, you may go back to your seat.